I’ll be the first to admit that once Halloween is over, I’m ready to dive headfirst into the holiday season. Part of me wants to breeze right past November and get on with decking the halls, sipping peppermint mochas, and enjoying all the holiday festivities. However, November itself has plenty of enjoyment to offer, and my latest trip to Trader Joe’s fully reminded me of that fact. We all know TJ’s goes all out with seasonal items for every holiday, and Thanksgiving is no exception. The aisles were brimming with shortcuts that will take the stress out of Thanksgiving dinner prep, snacks and dips that are perfect for hosting, and festive beverages that will help you romanticize these final days of fall.
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, planning a Friendsgiving gathering, or just wanting to enjoy your favorite fall flavors a little while longer, Trader Joe’s has tons of new (and returning) seasonal items for November. Here’s what’s worth adding to your cart:
1. Maple Pecan Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
The season of pumpkin spice may be coming to a close, but flavors like maple and pecan feel festive enough to carry over into the holiday season as well. This flavored cold brew concentrate is the easiest way to add some seasonal flavor to your morning coffee. Just pour some over ice, add a splash of milk, and you’re good to go!
2. Holiday Cheer Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread
Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar is one of the grocery chain’s all-time great products, so turning it into a spread was absolutely genius IMO. Now, TJ’s has come out with a holiday version of this cheese spread, which sounds like the perfect appetizer for gatherings this season. It’s made with Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, of course, plus a splash of Riesling wine, bits of dried cranberries, and a dash of cinnamon. Serve it with some crackers or crusty bread for an easy and festive shareable snack.
3. Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn
If you frequent the aisles of Trader Joe’s, you know their snack selection is top-tier, especially if you’re looking for something a little outside the box. This Thanksgiving stuffing-seasoned popcorn is the perfect example. Perfect for those who live for Thanksgiving dinner, it’s seasoned with a blend of celery seed, thyme, parsley, black pepper, and sage to mimic the classic flavor of stuffing.
4. Pie Crusts
Baking a pie yourself this year? Skip the fuss of making the crust from scratch and pick up this pre-made option instead. Found in the freezer aisle, the package comes with two crusts made with real butter for a light, flaky texture. Just remember to let the crust thaw out on the countertop for an hour or two before you start assembling your pie.
5. Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Brew Beverage
Made with cranberry juice, ginger extract, and plenty of bubbles, this might just be the perfect Thanksgiving beverage. Just add ice and a sprig of rosemary for a festive mocktail, or add a splash of bourbon or rum for a fun seasonal cocktail.
6. Nuts About Rosemary Mix
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or a full-blown Thanksgiving meal, having something for guests to snack on when they arrive is key. This rosemary-seasoned nut mix is the perfect thing to set out to keep your guests happy while you finish up in the kitchen.
7. Teeny Tiny Apple Pies
If you’re craving apple pie but don’t want to go to the trouble of making one yourself, grab a package of these adorable mini pies. Measuring about three inches in diameter, they pack all the flavors of apple pie into the ideal single serving. Warm one up in the microwave for a few seconds and then add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for peak deliciousness.
8. Spicy & Sweet Creamy Pepper Dip
Trader Joe’s dip section can do no wrong in my eyes, so I can’t wait to try this new item for November. Made with a blend of peppers, cheese, and sweet chili sauce, it strikes that perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and creamy.
9. Sparkling Violette Tea
This sparkling tea makes an excellent non-alcoholic alternative to sparkling wine or rosé. It’s made with a blend of black and herbal teas, with notes of black currant, hibiscus, and rosehip. Serve it chilled in your fanciest glassware for full effect.
10. Bourbon Vanilla Bean Syrup
This bourbon vanilla syrup is perfect for adding an extra flavor boost to homemade lattes or cocktails (perhaps an espresso martini or an old fashioned?). Grab a bottle for your bar cart or coffee station for an easy way to elevate your beverages this season.
11. Totally Cheeseball Cheese Spread
A cheeseball is a classic holiday appetizer, but it requires a fair amount of effort (read: lots of mixing) to make one yourself. If you need something quick and easy to bring to a gathering this season, grab a tub of this cheeseball spread and a package of crackers instead of attempting one from scratch. The spread is made with Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar and Syrah Toscano—plus almonds, garlic, and parsley—for a gourmet flavor with little cost or effort.
12. Nantucket Style Cranberry Pie
This cranberry pie makes for a unique addition to your Thanksgiving dessert spread that requires little to no prep work. You can either warm it up in the oven before serving, or just let it thaw out on the countertop for an hour or two. Made with cranberries, walnuts, and a buttery crust, it’s basically a cross between a cake, cobbler, and pie—and tasty enough to please any eater.
13. Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips
Stuffing is arguably the best Thanksgiving side dish, and somehow, the flavors taste even better in potato chip form. It’s the ideal snack to pair with your traditional day-after-Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich.
14. Brined Young Turkey
Skip the hassle of pre-ordering or frantically searching for your meal’s bird this year and pick up one of TJ’s instead. It’s truly a one-stop shop for everything you need for your Thanksgiving feast.
15. Cranberry Sauce
Whether you love it or hate it, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without cranberry sauce on the table. Skip the gelatinous canned version and opt for this fresh take instead.
16. Cornbread Stuffing Mix
As much as I love stuffing, it can be a pain to make from scratch. With this mix, you just add butter and water, pop it into a casserole dish or pan on the stovetop, and you’ve got a winning side with minimal effort! There’s also a gluten-free version for all the GF folks out there.
17. Everything but the Leftovers Seasoning
Packing all the flavors of a Thanksgiving feast (think sage, rosemary, onion, and black pepper, among others), this seasoning blend is the perfect way to add some oomph to your standby dishes.
18. Condensed Cream of Portabella Mushroom Soup
If you’re going the homemade route for your green bean casserole this year, this cream of mushroom soup will add a ton of flavor.
19. Turkey Flavored Gravy
Like the package says: Just pour, heat, and serve. Gravy has never been easier.
20. Holiday Vegetable Hash
Thanksgiving dinner comes with a lot of prep work, but Trader Joe’s has got you covered with shortcuts that’ll save you time. This mix of pre-cut seasonal vegetables is perfect for adding to soups or your stuffing, while saving your hands from all that chopping.
21. Cornbread Mix
Making cornbread from scratch? Not necessary with this easy-to-bake mix.
22. Rustic Apple Tarte
For a no-stress Thanksgiving dessert, you can’t go wrong with this apple tart from TJ’s freezer section. Made with apples, cream cheese, sliced almonds, and a sprinkling of sugar, it’s good enough to fool your guests into thinking it’s homemade.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
